New Albany Roofing Blog

Assuming you hired expert New Albanyroofing contractors during the installation of your roof, you might be looking at 15, 20, 50, or more years of use depending on the materials installed. However, constant changing weather conditions can decrease the life expectancy of a roof. Luckily, there are a few measures that can be taken to ensure a roof lives out its expected lifespan. Roof coating is one of these measures that you might want to consider.

Designed to be placed on an already completed roofing structure, roof coatings add an extra layer of protection against outdoor elements thereby enabling the roof to last longer. Below, we delve into the topic of roof coating to help you have a good grasp of what it entails.

What is Roof Coating?

A roof coating is basically a monolithic, fully adhered membrane with elastic properties. The elasticity allows the roof coating to expand and contract alongside roofing materials as the weather changes from hot to cold. This helps to keep a roof coating adhered to the roof even during extreme weather.

When it comes to roof coatings, commonly used options include:

Silicone Coating

Silicone coatings have been around for a long time and are well known for standing up to weather extremely well. They also resist erosion and do not harden or become brittle when exposed to weather elements. What’s more, silicone coatings feature both waterproof and reflective properties and will therefore be an ideal fit for areas that experience a lot of rain or very hot summers.On the downside, this roof coating option can be expensive and prone to holding dirt. Silicone also tends to lose its reflective powers over time, so, regular reapplication is necessary.

Acrylic Coatings

The most popular of roof coatings in the market today, acrylic coatings come with several desirable qualities. They are eco-friendly, affordable, water resistant, and great at reflecting both sunlight and UV radiation. What sets acrylic apart from other types of roof coatings is its amazing versatility. A liberal spread of acrylic on your roof can hold up well in just about any weather and also be applied on any material. Keep in mind though that acrylic roof coats come in different formulas (solvent and water-based). Reliable New Albanyroofing contractors should be able to advise on which option you should choose. The right choice of formula will depend on several factors including type of roof, weather patterns, adhesion, among others.

Asphalt Coatings

Available in black emulsion and aluminized options, asphalt coatings are designed to adapt to the weather as well as reflect sunlight and all its harmful effects away from the roof. The only problem is that asphalt coatings work best on asphalt and bitumen-based roofs.

Bitumen Based Coatings

One of the cheaper types of roof coatings, bitumen based coatings are compatible with many roofing materials. And like most roof coatings, bitumen is both UV and water resistant.

Polyurethane Coatings

This is a solvent-based roof coating, which comes in aliphatic and aromatic types with the former option offering better UV resistance. The selling point for polyurethane coatings is that they are highly resistant to abrasion. They therefore make a good option for flat roofs with high foot traffic, areas that are prone to hailstorms or roofs that experience a lot of debris.

Benefits of Roof CoatingThe main benefit of coating a roof is that you will get to enjoy an extended lifespan from the structure. A good roof coating will create a resilient barrier that will increase your roof’s waterproof quality, protect against harmful UV rays, and drive heat away from the roof’s surface. With this kind of heightened protection against the elements, a coated roof will not only last longer but also avoid damage. This potentially means you will not have to do or pay much for maintenance work. Other benefits of having New Albanyroofing contractors coat your roof include:

Reduced energy bills: Most roof coatings have both reflective and emissive qualities, which see the membrane, not only drive damaging ultraviolet and infrared rays away from the roof but also reflect sunlight. This translates to a cooler house, which in turn means lower energy bills since you will not have to rely too much on the home’s AC system.

Good curb appeal: Since roof coatings are reflective, fading will not be an issue, which means a roof will retain its color and glow for longer. Roof coatings also come in a variety of colors that can improve your property’s appearance.

Is Roof Coating Right for you?

Whether you are dealing with a commercial building, an office, or your very own home, roof coating is a great investment that will help make the roof more robust and durable. In fact, there are several instances that call for it as a necessary measure. These include when you are looking to extend the lifespan of your roof or upgrade a building’s appearance; when the roof’s existing coating no longer protects the underlying roofing material; and in instances when coating can be used in conjunction with roof repairs to restore an old roof to a functional watertight structure. Similarly, roof coating is a good idea in areas where the sun burns too hot.

That said, coating the roof is not a viable option for everyone. For instance, roof coating cannot be used to squeeze out more life from a roof that has already outlived its usefulness. Alternatively, roof coatings are susceptible to problems in areas where dust, debris, steam, and other contaminants are in excess. So, applying roof coating in such areas would be pointless. The same goes for environments where pooling is a problem since water that is left standing for too long can cause degradation, loss of adhesion, and flaking in roof coatings thereby making the material useless. Therefore, when it comes to determining if roof coating is right for you, it is best to get New Albany roofing contractors to assess your situation.